Just "Discovered" Busse.. Pros/Cons?

I imagine a more conventional approach to production would involve spending a huge amount of money to extend production capacity. This is probably more than most craftsmen/workshops want to undertake.

Also, over the last couple of years there seem to have been a lot of military orders that have consumed a lot of production time.
 
djolney said:
I imagine a more conventional approach to production would involve spending a huge amount of money to extend production capacity. This is probably more than most craftsmen/workshops want to undertake.

Also, over the last couple of years there seem to have been a lot of military orders that have consumed a lot of production time.
Click to expand...
Like I said, maybe they don't want to sell more (or need to sell more). Supply can always be adjusted to demand if the willingness is there to expand business through proper employment & training of the craft. This applies to any business. I myself am a sole proprietor doing just fine, so I can relate to the lack of interest to expand.
 
I'm just glad the wait for a Busse is a matter of months rather than a number of years as it is for Randall.
 
Murky Depth said:
I looked at the site & saw only a scant few models...
Click to expand...
They never did have a huge amount of models, though it used it used to always be the full standard line plus variants, but with the new fusion handle, the full standard line isn't even up yet.

As for fit and finish, you buy from them directly, or can, so be specific about the level of fit and finish required, and you don't get it, pummel them with timbits until you do.

-Cliff
 
dj - Yeah, I couldn't imagine waiting a year plus for a knife, I might just lose interest by the time it arrives, hah. I'd get a randall on the secondary market for sure.

Cliff - Thanks for the advice, I guess you're used to 'pummeling' matters related to knives, eh? :)
 
I like Busse knives. Generally, though, I find their edges are usually a tad too thick for my tastes. Simple solution, I reprofile them to what I like. :)
 
Hi All-

A confusing model selection process does not make for satisfied repeat customers. Why not have four "workhorse" models that can be purchased anytime with reasonable delivery period (two months) if customization is desired on those basic knives.

There could then be other specialized models that "rotate" on an annual basis that may or may not return to production. It apparently works for their business model, but my belief is that you want to secure repeat customers that return again and again along with their friends. Familiarity, fairness, and reliability are certainly among the cornerstones when building that relationship.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Busse:

Positive

1 Awesome steel, keeps a good edge, easy to resharpen, surprisingly stain resistant

2 Tough!, I haven't run across many broken Busses, the combination of INFI plus thick blades makes them near-indestructable

3 Very good ergonomics, especially for full tang knives.

4 Resale value! You can typically sell your Busse for about what you bought it for or more, barring any major disfiguring.

Negative

1 Not great slicers. All are a tad thick so cutting ability is hampered to some degree or another.

2 Not cheap. Say what you will, a $300+ price tag hurts.

3 Have to buy your own sheath nowadays. Kind of lame, adding the 50 dollars to the price and giving a choice of sheaths would be my choice.
 
Just head over to the Busse Manufactures Forum, although they may be a bit prejudice there's alot of good information hiding in the archives.

:eek::eek::eek:
 
No, Busse can't hold repeat customers. That's why I only have about $15K
of the darned things.

Hey, if I wanted Walmart-like availablilty, I'd go to Walmart.
 
After you use your first Busse HARD, you'll find out that there is no hype.
the knives are as good as everyone says.
After that, there's no need for the Busse. Co. to follow a regular marketing plan.
Also, it's a SMALL shop, they make quality
That can't crank out INFI knives as fast as other companies, and they don't want to.
Quality that will never be compromised by a time schedule.
that's the way it is, and the Busse Co. is better for it.
 
I was a bit apprehensive about the "cult like" following that Busse's have....at first.

I decided to take the plunge, and I haven't looked back since.

Just get one in your hand, and you will understand.

Of course, that's if this type of knife appeals to you.
 
Hi MikeH-

Busse obviously has tons of satisfied (me included) customers. As an example, I would love to get something thinner and smaller like a Satin Jack when I have the extra money. Unfortunately, I have to either turn to the secondary market or wait until the model I desire "cycles" back and hope that I still have the money available at that time. With such busy schedules that we all face, it is very possible to accidentally overlook the Busse web site to see if availability has changed.

Another solution would be to picture the knives and just list in which months orders will be processed. If people are comfortable placing an order now and waiting sixteen months until production starts and deliveries are made, that would be fine. Just an idea.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Matteo Escobar said:
... "cult like" following that Busse's have
Click to expand...
Cults are more one sided, accepting on faith, no critism, no comparisons, closed door, etc. . I don't see that applying well to Busse. Knife cults are easy to spot, look for

1) knives promoted because of the awesome badness of the makers or a sub group of users

2) strong adversion to questions on performance with no definate public statements of performance

3) very poor reactions to critism, gets personal quickly while ignoring the actual arguements

4) hypocrisy, aspects of the cult knives are accepted while heavily critized in others

5) little to no comparisons to other knives to actually allow the performance to be benchmarked

-Cliff
 
I love my Busse. :D Its an awesome knife, and the Busse forum is full of awesome people, and Jerry Busse himself is an awesome guy! What more could you want in a knife company?
 
Forgot to add: The Busse Combat forum is a great bunch of people. They will do anything in their power to help you, no matter what.
 
:confused: The question begs to be asked
What WILL the Busse Magnum whacker chopper really do in the real world that a Ontario Machete or Martindale golok won't?
I'm not talking here about schoolboy fantasies involving charging into a pack of raghead Muzzies and laying waste all around or chopping into a block of concrete just to destroy the edge - I mean for real.
As a knife it is WAY to big (you'd get tired pulling the damn thing from its sheath let alone cutting for long with it) , as a machete its a tad too small.
We are after all talking about an item five times as costly as the alternatives - does it perform 5 time better?
I like good knives as much as the next nut - Reeve's are brilliant - (quality costs), Randalls are artificially priced but oh so nice, etc etc but I have to agree with BlueJays -"The downside is dealing with their bizarre decision to have a "rotating" availability of knives. Visit their site and you'll know what I mean...it's as if Chevrolet informed the marketplace that the Corvette could only be viewed and ordered in February and August."
and some Busse designs are just 'for the cult' marketing exercises.
My 2cents anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top